Report No. 62

1B.20. Position regarding ships.-

Thus, with regard to extra-territorial accidents on ships not registered in India, difficulty arises if the Indian Act, section 15, is given a wide scope. As stated above,1 the Act (as amended in 1933) is intended apparently to cover such extra-territorial accidents. The Royal Commission on Indian Labour had recommended that special attention should be given to the possibility of extending the Indian Act to Indian seamen while serving on all ships within India's territorial waters and on British ships engaged in the coastal trade of India. The great majority of Indian seamen were engaged on ships registered outside India, and mainly on British ships. These seamen could not claim compensation under the Indian Act, though they had the protection of the British and other Workmen's Compensation Acts. These aspects were specifically mentioned by the Royal Commission.

1. See discussion regarding present position, paras. 1B.10 and 1B.13, supra.